outside the (toy) box

Well, many smart bloggers have me thinking about the holidays.  Mom Unplugged has really been posting great, thought-provoking stuff that asks us to reconsider what holidays are and what they can be (Man, does she make some good points I’d rather not hear, remincent of Candace’s post on bloggy guilt).  I know she’s right and it hurts a little.  And the Not Quite Crunchy Parent has several posts addressing toys toys toys and good buying for smart, healthy, creative play.

I’d like to add to the discussion a little by highlighting a few goodies we can all take under advisement.  The first is that the teachers’ org. TRUCE has released their annual toy guide.  It’s a nice resource for parents and also a gentle nudge we can forward to well intentioned relatives who are filling your house with things you don’t really care for. 

Some of you might want to get into the a healthier consumption mindset by checking out What Would Jesus Buy.  At least we can laugh at the insanity.  I can’t wait to see it. I heart me some Reverend Billy - I tip my hat to him and all the other culture jamming activists out there who make us smile and keep dissent fun and photogenic.  Read the complete Post.

I don’t know about you, but when I was in middle school we called it two-faced.  Can Mattel really claim to its customers here in the US that they were unaware that lead paint was being used because the production was outsourced (which also conveniently keeps them “unaware” that their toys are being assembled by 11 year olds. Mmmmm, nothing like an order of toxic fumes with a side of berating for breakfast, dee-licious!) in one breath and then in the next apologize to China for making Chinese manufacturers look bad when the “real” problem was their “design flaw”? Read the complete Post.